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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 204
Serious Contributor
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OP
Serious Contributor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 204 |
Hi,
I've got a gig coming up with a lot of new people from a new job and one of the things I'd like to work on is audience involvement. I'm doing a Jazz/Pop gig at a little restaurant so it's not a huge venue, but I want my friends to have a good time. I'd like to tell some jokes or have a good way to give away my CD's, or invite people to participate in a song or something. I'd just like some ideas or maybe experiences some of you have had.
Thanks! Diane
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 8,574
JPF Mentor
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JPF Mentor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 8,574 |
Diane,
I used to have people take out their keys and jingle them for percussion. I had them do the "side to side" shake for a long jingle and the "up and down" shake to keep time. Warn them about hitting their knuckles with the "up and down" shake.
Announce the title of the first and second songs. Before the third song, give a cd away to whomever can tell you the titles of the first two.
Free cds for the person who drove farthest; lived closest; had a piece of sugerless gum, a paper clip, an honest to goodness wind up watch, or if you have an adult audience, a feminine...well...uh....you know (foot now blushing). Better yet, give a cd to the first man who brings it up to you.
Have a good time.
Mike
You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way. -Johnny Cash It's only music. -niteshift Mike Dunbar Music
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6,114
Top 40 Poster
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Top 40 Poster
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I bring a sack of tomatos so I can throw them back at the audience.
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,401
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Posts: 2,401 |
I also encourage singing along, either by doing a couple of popular covers, or by teaching them the chorus for a kooky song.
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,389
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Top 100 Poster
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When imploring people to buy my CD's I tell them to please support my crack habit, as well as get my ex-Wives off my back!{Kidding about the former, serious about the latter.}
bc
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,657
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I have tossed a CD into the audience - that gets their attention and keeps 'em on their toes Emily
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,403
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Joined: Nov 2003
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Best audience-participation thing I ever ran across was the Bongettes. Haven't used it myself (though I think I havea couple of songs it'd work with).
Mostly, I just try to make audiences feel comfortable. They came to see/hear me/us, after all, so I figure tey kinda know what to expect. I just try to convey the general we's-all-in-the-living-room-and-gonna-have-a-good-time feeling.
Yes, sing-alongs are good. I pretty much don't do covers, though, since I can't sing 'em--but I've got a bunch of my songs that are good sing-alongs, and it's surprising how many people know them.
I don't give away CDs. I make sure people understand they are for sale. (However, I regularly trade CDs with other musicians, and I do give them to radio station DJs, club owners, and the like. But not to the general public.)
Joe
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,507
Top 100 Poster
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Top 100 Poster
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give away a cd for the best couple on the dance floor for a particular number...have the audience pick the winner by way of applause, that way even those that didn't dance are participating...have fun...or a sing along come help me sing, or the hokey pokey...ha...mj
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 10,941 Likes: 3
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Top 10 Poster
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Posts: 10,941 Likes: 3 |
I saw Tom Chapin (or one of the Chapin boys) do the "keys rhythm" thing that Mike mentions above, and it worked out very well. It actually sounded pretty good.
Kevin
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 7,412
Top 30 Poster
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Top 30 Poster
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 7,412 |
Always be yourself. If you find something amusing around the venue that you noticed you may be able to work it into your act. A news story that you can use may be something you can use if you are confortable with it. Traffic conditions are always good to use or the weather, too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry, etc.
As you continue to do gigs you can develope a routine that works.
Ray E. Strode
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6,114
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Top 40 Poster
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I had a friend who used to play the Cab Calloway classic "Minnie The Moocher",(the Hi-Dee-Ho song). When he got to the chorus he would have the men in the audience sing "Hi-Dee-Ho", then the women would sing "Hi-Dee-Hi". Then the whole audience would try to sing the "Scat" part. It worked very well.
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 168
Serious Contributor
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Serious Contributor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 168 |
Diane, My two things to keep in mind....and rules I try to live by:
1. I'm a musician, not a comedian. My warped sense of humor is often not understood by folks who don't know me. Therefore, I don't try to be funny onstage. I break this rule alot.... and regret it. lol!
2. No matter what you say, speak slowly and enunciate your words clearly. Other than an out of tune guitar, nothing bugs me more than not being able to understand what he/she is trying to tell me. Pay attention to their faces, if they can't understand, they'll have that look of confusion. if you're using a soundperson and reverb/delay, have them turn them down when you speak.
good luck! Dave
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 8,102
Top 25 Poster
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Top 25 Poster
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They participated enough if they just showed up!
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 204
Serious Contributor
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OP
Serious Contributor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 204 |
Great ideas everyone, thank you! And you are so right John, if they show up that's really pretty amazing in itself! :-)
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 276
Serious Contributor
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Serious Contributor
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 276 |
give away a cd for the best couple on the dance floor for a particular number...have the audience pick the winner by way of applause, that way even those that didn't dance are participating...have fun...or a sing along come help me sing, or the hokey pokey...ha...mj Hey, Moker! Thanks for the idea. My last band did a version of The Hokey Pokey with lyrics as Shakespeare would have written them (we performed at Renaissance Festivals; our sound was similar to the Andrews Sisters). It would be a stitch to get someone on stage to do the motions.
Jeannie
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